Magnolia Rose Foundation Builds Community for Autism Families

What started as a small playdate has grown into a major event supporting hundreds of families in Baton Rouge.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:50am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of children playing on a grassy field, with soft, warm pools of light and color creating a dreamlike, serene atmosphere that captures the inclusive, supportive spirit of the Magnolia Rose Foundation's community events.A community event provides a welcoming, judgment-free space for families raising children with autism to find support and acceptance.Baton Rouge Today

Five years ago, Miranda Georgetown Riley founded the Magnolia Rose Foundation with the goal of providing a safe, welcoming space for families raising children with autism. What began as a playdate with just seven kids has now blossomed into a large annual fundraiser event that draws hundreds of people, featuring sensory-friendly activities, vendors, and a community where every child is accepted as they are.

Why it matters

The Magnolia Rose Foundation's events offer a crucial sense of community and understanding for families navigating the unique challenges of parenting children with autism, who often face misunderstanding and judgment from the general public. By creating a supportive environment, the foundation helps these families find the acceptance and resources they need.

The details

The foundation's main annual fundraiser is a walk that provides the funding for their other free, bi-monthly activities at places like water parks, movie theaters, and trampoline parks. Founder Miranda Georgetown Riley says the goal is to give families a break from daily struggles and a chance to simply enjoy themselves without judgment. First-time attendee Raven Williams, a mother of an autistic child, says parenting a child with autism requires learning 'a different playbook,' with challenges like elopement that most people don't understand. Another attendee, Tia King, wants to break assumptions about what autism 'looks like,' emphasizing that the condition doesn't always appear as expected.

  • The Magnolia Rose Foundation was founded 5 years ago.
  • The annual fundraiser walk took place on Saturday.

The players

Miranda Georgetown Riley

The founder of the Magnolia Rose Foundation, which she started 5 years ago with the goal of providing a supportive community for families with autistic children.

Raven Williams

A mother who attended the Magnolia Rose Foundation event for the first time, learning that parenting a child with autism requires a 'different playbook' than typical parenting.

Tia King

A first-time attendee who wants to break assumptions about what autism 'looks like,' emphasizing that the condition doesn't always appear as expected.

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What they’re saying

“Loving it, just trying to find community, helping other families find community, dealing with children with exceptionalities.”

— Miranda Georgetown Riley, Magnolia Rose Foundation founder

“It is different parenting-wise, because certain things that may not trigger a child who is not autistic may trigger him. He does have his moments where he may stim out, or in his case, he loves to elope.”

— Raven Williams, Mother of an autistic child

“Autism will never look like autism. You cannot assume that just because a person does not look like they have it, that they don't.”

— Tia King

What’s next

The Magnolia Rose Foundation plans to continue hosting its bi-monthly sensory-friendly activities and annual fundraiser walk to support families in the Baton Rouge area.

The takeaway

The Magnolia Rose Foundation's events provide a vital sense of community, acceptance, and resources for families raising children with autism, who often face misunderstanding and judgment from the general public. By creating a supportive environment, the foundation helps these families find the understanding and support they need.